She is young and vibrant and curious and the world is her oyster.
Today, though, is not a time for exploring. Jaide trots happily down the well-worn Jungle path, responding to a call she can barely hear over the squawking of macaws. She has found their company to be most delightful – with their rainbow plumage and secret vocabularies of chirps and whistles -but she finds that she prefers the ever-inquisitive and fearless monkeys. Not that she’d ever tell them, of course. Monkeys already have egos as big as the sky surely is above the canopy.
She’d learned that the hard way months ago, when she was much smaller than she is now. The little spider monkey had seemed a willing playmate at first (other than its initial shyness when it had poked its head out from between two ferns). It warmed up to the filly quickly, had even climbed onto her back and pulled at her mane with abandon. They had cavorted around the clearing, played hide-and-seek with her behind the kabob trees and the monkey actually up in the trees. It was a grand time until he had spotted a singular, ripe papaya hanging above him.
The rest of the fruits had been picked through or hollowed out by birds. The monkey had jumped from her back up into the tree, his eyes lit with his newfound purpose in life. As he had climbed closer, however, the limb shook terribly with his weight. He reached out with one delicate hand, but already the shaking had severed the overripe stem. The papaya fell and as it did, so did the monkey’s gaze. Jaide seized the opportunity and grabbed the green-yellow skinned fruit once it hit the forest floor. She only meant to prolong their play as she pranced with it about the glade. The spider monkey grabbed for it many times, bounding along beside her as she kept it lofted above his head. Eventually, his shrieks had turned to dejected chattering. The monkey jumped up into a tree, looked back at her once with palpably hurt eyes, and disappeared into the dense canopy.
She had learned her lesson that day – that monkeys were all fun and games until they were temper-tantrum-throwing assholes.
She thinks on all of her stories so far as she comes upon the meeting. There aren’t many, of course – she’s only nearing her third birthday after all. But what she lacks in quantity, the blue girl makes up for in quality. She appreciates every facet of life in the Amazons. She loves the ferocity of the jaguar, appreciates the persistence of the mosquito, and gravitates towards the compassion of the river manatee. They all have a purpose, every one. And in that spirit, in the mind frame of work and dedication, she comes ready to devote herself to the place.
Jaide knows all of the Sisters though they might not know her. Her mother had raised her close enough to the central portion of the kingdom that she knew faces and names, but far enough away to never really join in with the other fillies. The mare was old and uncomfortable with closeness outside of her daughter. It had been difficult to leave her side, but Jaide is not like her mother. She is all things social and warm; she is quick to laugh and slow to judge anyone. She smiles warmly at each girl and woman that comes to stand before Scorch before listening to the queen herself.
Everything is new to her young ears; everything is completely and wholly exciting. She knows of the tattoos, but has arrived too late to receive any herself. Will they come slowly for her as well if she pledges today? Thoughts clamor for space in her mind, each more intriguing than the next. She remains silent until her bald aunt finishes speaking, not knowing anything of the politics she would soon have to learn. The time feels right, though. She feels ready. “I’m Jaide. Hi everyone.” Her luminous green eyes peer around her, taking in all of the sisters equally. When she looks back at the Khaleesi, her eyes remain fixed as she speaks the vows. “To the Jungle, I swear my service in life and death. To this kingdom, I swear my blood and my body. To my Sisters and Brothers, I swear my loyalty and love.” Afterwards, she beams, feeling the Amazons fully claim her as Her own.
The rest of the meeting passes in a blur. Jaide listens as best she can, but she’s awash in pride and love for the place around her. She watches Rhy more than the others, intending to join the peace caste in the near future. “I’d like to help with diplomacy, if you’ll have me.” And she falls silent, listening and learning.
Jaide
girl of fire and ice